Egg freezing is an increasingly popular option for women who want to preserve their fertility and plan for the future. But the question on many women’s minds is, will insurance cover the cost of egg freezing? In this article, we’ll discuss “does insurance cover egg freezing” and what you can expect if you consider this option.
Does insurance cover egg freezing?
Egg freezing is not covered by insurance because many companies consider the egg freezing procedure elective. Some insurance plans may cover egg freezing for medical reasons, such as before cancer treatment, while others companies only cover it for fertility preservation.
Simplified Costs of a Single Egg Freezing Cycle
| LINE ITEM | COST | Features |
| Treatment | $11,000 | Includes monitoring, egg retrieval, anesthesia & other |
| Medication | $5,000 | Will vary depending on how aggressively the patient is stimulated |
| Storage | $2,000 | Presume 5 years of storage, 1st year free, $500 per year after |
Statistics show that 50% of females freeze only one egg, while some may keep more than one egg.
The cost of freezing eggs varies from state to state. Here we have compiled the egg-freezing cost of significant cities in the United States.
Insurance Companies that cover egg freezing
Several insurance companies offer coverage for egg freezing, but it vary depending on the specific policy and state regulations. Egg freezing are covered by these companies:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- United Healthcare
- Kaiser Permanente
If insurance covers egg freezing, it will not cover the entire cost, Moreover there are specific criterias that need to be met in order to qualify for coverage.
Success Rate of Egg Freezing
Egg freezing success depends on the following.
- woman’s age
- quality of the eggs,
- Method used for thawing and fertilization.
On average, the success rate for women under 35 is about 60-80% for thawed eggs, with a 20-40% chance of a live birth per thawed egg. For women over 40, the success rate drops significantly to around 5-20%. Here is the graph showing the Success ratio varying with the age of women.
Is Egg Freezing Worth It?
Egg freezing is a fantastic alternative if you’re not ready to create a family or want to protect your fertility. Freezing eggs give women more options for creating a family later in life.
However, egg freezing is costly, and as a woman matures, her success rate of conception using frozen eggs drops.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Egg Freezing
Pros of egg freezing include:
- Preserves fertility for later use.
- Option for career-focused individuals.
- Increases the chance of having a biological child.
- Avoids potential decline in egg quality with age.
- Give time to find suitable partners or improve health.
Cons of egg freezing include:
- Costly and only sometimes covered by insurance.
- Not a guarantee of a successful pregnancy.
- Requires hormones and invasive procedures.
- Limited shelf life of frozen eggs.
- Ethical and moral considerations.
Does insurance cover egg freezing | FAQs
Does insurance provide coverage for egg retrieval?
Insurance companies don’t cover the cost of egg freezing or egg retrieval procedure. In some cases, insurance may only cover it if the process is medically necessary, e.g. due to a medical condition or cancer treatment.
Which health insurance covers egg freezing?
Some insurance providers may cover egg freezing as part of their infertility treatment benefits, while employers also offer insurance plans that cover egg freezing. Examples of insurance providers that cover egg freezing in the US include:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
Does Medicaid cover egg-freezing costs?
Medicaid does not pay the expense of egg freezing, but IVF procedures, including the price of egg freezing, are sometimes covered by state Medicaid programmes.
Does blue cross blue shield cover egg freeze?
Blue Shield presently covers egg freezing for their customers. They include it as a fertility procedure often covered by insurance, though your particular policy.
Does United healthcare cover egg freeze?
Other primary insurance provider that offers coverage for egg freezing is United Healthcare. They define it as a fertility treatment which they cover by most insurance policies.
Does insurance cover egg freezing | Conclusion:
Insurance coverage for egg freezing varies depending on the insurance policy. Some insurance plans may cover egg freezing as a fertility preservation treatment, while others may not. If your insurance plan does not cover egg freezing, alternative financing options are available, such as financing through a fertility clinic or taking out a personal loan.